Mobile Phone Theft
by Sena Atoklo2006-03-11 00:00:00 | Viewed 1934 times
Sena Atoklo of Joy FM investigates mobile phone crime in Ghana for the international exchange series Global Perspective 2006 - focusing on the theme of Crime.
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Mobile gangsterSena Atoklo goes on the trail of the mobile phone thieves in the Joy FM edition of 'Global Perspective'. "Stealing a phone is the fastest means of making money," say the former criminals he meets. "Much better than taking a wallet that might turn out to be empty!" On the streets of Accra, everyone seems to be shouting into a mobile phone. "That's the problem," according to the owner of one phone shop, "they all want to show off their phones and so they become victims. |
Heading down Tiptoe Lane, which has a reputation for illegal business, there's a huge selection of second-hand phones and business is brisk. Sena meets the guys who sell the phones on Tiptoe Lane to hear not only where they get them, but also their accounts of how they check the phones have not been stolen.
He meets a stallholder who offers a three-day warranty with the phones he sells; and one who insists on being supplied with the phone's charger if the person selling it can't provide the original receipt.
The international circulation of stolen mobile phones is hugely profitable. Mobiles taken in Britain have been traced to Ghana. In Tiptoe Lane, the stall holders say they get their supplies from Finland, Dubai and Italy - brand-new ones as well as second-hand ones - all legitimate, they claim Sena hears from the policeman running the world's only dedicated mobile phone unit, who is based in London, and from Ghana's police who say they are getting to grips with the crime. He also hears how an education programme is helping people to make sure they are not the targets of phone thieves.
Listen to the full audio on Radio Netherlands
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2007-01-26 02:07:47
"Why would you name Africans like this. Why cant you people tell the world some thing good about this continent. We are always the negative siders. We fraud we snatch mobile phones and blablabla. Do you know the number of phones snatched on london streets aday. Why cant black realise he was also cratwed by the same GOD of Ceaser,Isaac newtown and Nkruma. I am ashamed of what you were able to investigate. cant you investigate and publish productive parts of Africa? Where are you people druging the name of Africa to? Your work is totly disqualied if only progress was what African Union is For. oszanger@yahoo.co.uk "
osman from accra